Liquid container and dropper



Sept. 19, 1950 A. LQEFFLER LIQUID CONTAINER AND DROPPER Filed Oct. 14, 1949 INVENTOR ALBERT LOEFFLER BY W ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICIE LIQUID CONTAINER AND DROPPER Albert Loeffler, New York, N. Y.

Application October 14, 1949, Serial No. 121,360 10 Claims. (01. 222-215) This invention relates to a combination liquid container and dropper, such as are used for applying medicaments to the nose, eyes, ears, or chemicals in the form of droplets or in relatively small quantities.

The most commonly known dropper construction simply consists. of a dropper tube with a rubber bulb, the entire device being generally disposed within a separate container. With such devices it frequently becomes necessary to first remove the dropper, place it upon a table or basin, then cover the container with a cork, thereafter applying the dropper wherever it may be required. Not only does this involve several inconvenient steps, but the placing of the dropper upon the table or basin may render it non-sterile. It is accordingly within my contemplation to provide a combination unit comprising a container and drop dispenser which will simplify the application of drops and will eliminate the danger of rendering the dropper non-sterile as above indicated.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device of the above class having separable upper and lower caps, for the respective purposes of enabling the container to be filled and for protecting the outlet tip of the dropper. And in this aspect of my invention it is an important object to provide a device having a, smooth outer surface, to enable the device to be conveniently fitted into a pocket or the like, and to prevent the accumulation of dust or dirt on the outer surface of the device, or in the portions separating the container portion from said caps.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a device which is capable of being conveniently operated by one hand, with the fingers enveloping the smooth outer surface thereof and the thumb or forefinger over the rubber bulb for applying suitable pressure thereto.

It is further within my contemplation to provide the device with a bottom closure cap for the dropper tip portionthe cap being so constructed as to provide a well for receiving any drippings from the outlet tip while the device is not operatively in use-whereby such drippings may, if desired, be returned into the main container portion of the unit.v

A further object of my invention is to enable the said bottom closure cap, and the well thereof, conveniently to accommodate dropper tips that are either straight, or that are curved. And in this aspect of my invention it is an important object to provide, in a special form of my invention, a bottom closure cap with a well adapted to receive a tip of comparatively large curvature.

And it is within my contemplation to provide a device having the aforesaid advantages and, features, and yet which is simple in construction and easy to fabricate.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring 'to the drawings,

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the container body portion and two cap containers of a preferred form of my invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the device of Figure l with the upper cap in place, and showing the position of the lower cap by dot-dash lines.

Figure 3 is a section of Figure 2 along line 3--3.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the bottom portion of a modified form of my invention, showing a curved dropper tip accommodated by the well of a bottom closure cap, and

Figure 6 is a view like Figure 5, but showing a dropper tip of still greater curvature.

In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the device comprises three components, the main body member H), the top cap member II and the bottom cap member 12. The body member [0 comprises a hollow cylindrical container portion l3 the internal chamber M being adapted to contain therein a selected fluid. The floor iii of said chamber is conical in shape and communicates (in the form shown in Figures 1 to 4) with the central channel it extending through the conically shaped dropper tip ll-the axis of the said channel and tip being coincidental with that of the cylindrical portion l3,

The outer base iii of said portion I3 is an annular flat plane normal to the axis of the said cylindrical body portion, said base surrounding the threaded boss is extending downwardly from the container portion l3. The top of the said container portion comprises a flat annular peripheral wall 2t, normal to said axis, and surrounding the upper threaded boss 2| of member Ill.

The upper cap member ll contains an axial aperture 22 communicating with an expanded aperture 23 the lateral cylindrical wall of which is threadedthe proportions of said aperture 23 and the threads thereon being adapted to receive therein, for threaded engagement, the said boss 2|. Fitted within said aperture 22 is the rubber bulb member 24 comprising a bottom flange 25 underlying the inner annular shoulder 26 of member l I, an intermediate portion 2'! disposed within aperture 22, and an outwardly extending bulb Portion 28- The base of member I I contains a fiat annular peripheral Wall 29 adapted for engagement with said wall 20 when cap member I I is operably disposed upon member Ill. The diameter of cylindrical member II is, in the preferred form of my invention illustrated, exactly equal to that of member H1, so that when cap II is assembled on member IS, the outer cylindrical wall of the two members are absolutely flush, separated only by the circular meeting line of bases 2!] and 29.

The bottom cap [2 contains a central chamber or well 30 formed by the inner lateral wall of the member and the inner floor 3! thereof. The upper portion of said chamber comprises the threaded annular wall 32the proportions of the chamber 39 and threaded portion 32 being adapted to receive, in threaded engagement, the said threaded boss I9. The length of chamber 30 is sufficient to accommodate the, saidtip i l, ,with the terminal portion 33 preferably disposed above the, said floor SI.

The top of said member it contains the flat peripheral annular wall fi l, normal to the axis of ,member ID, and adapted to meet said wall l8 when members l2 and It are in assembled rela tion. The outer diameter of member I2, which is cylindrical, is equal tothat of member ll], so

that when cap i2 is disposed on member H], the outer cylindrical surfaces of the two members will be flush.

It is preferred that the material out of which said members are composed be transparent, of

preferably glass or plastic material, with a smooth or highly polished outer surface. This will not only enable the contents within members in and I2 to be seen, but will also constitute a very oonve'nient and sanitary unit for storing and handling. As will be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the smooth cylindrical construction, with no protruding portions onthc outer lateral surface, provides an arrangement without pockets or recesses I -andwhich will therefore be less apt to accumulate dust.

The circular meeting edges 35 and 36 provide, as aforesaid, flush and continuous surfaces along the entire length of the assembled unit, without protrusions or recesses. v

In operatively employing this device, the bottom cap it is removed; immediately thereafter the device can be applied to its intended use. The

' cylindrical container portion l3 can be grasped with the fingers and either the thumb or the forefinger applied to the bulb 28, to force the liquid within saidcontainer out Of the tip 11. There is no need to remove a dropper from a container, as is done with most conventional devices; and there is no need to place the dropper on an unsanitary table or basin while the stopper of the container is being removed.

. The well 30 is intended not only to accommodate therein the tip ll, but also to receive any accumulations offluid that may inadvertently drop through the channel I6. Since said well 39 is sealed from the atmosphere by the joint 36, the sterility of any accumulations of fluid within the well 30 will be maintained. Any such accumulated liquids could readily be poured back into the member II] by removing cap H, as indicated in Figure 1. The said well 38 also serves to keep the tip I l" properly confined and in sterile condition when the cap i2 is operatively in place. Figure shows a modification in which the tip lla contains a curved terminal portion 31. It

will be noted that the well Sta in bottom cap its is proportioned so as to accommodate this type of dropper tip.

At times it is required to have a curved dropper tip with considerable curvature, so as to enable it to be applied to recessed portions that are not otherwise accessible. The tip ll?) of Figure 6 represents such a structure, the curved terminal portion 38 having a terminal 39 that is considerably offset with respect to the downwardly extending body .portion of the tip. In this construction the channel [6b extends downwardly in a sloping direction from the floor I5b of the container portion I31) and then bends to the left to the said terminal 39. The said tip l'lb extends "dswn'wardi from boss i912 in a generally sloping direction, to conform with the slope of channel Rio, and then curves around to follow the path .of said channel. It is thus apparent that dropper tip l'lb joins the boss l9b= at an area that is eccentric with respect to the longitudinal axis of member i312. The well 30b is proportioned to'rece'ive the'entire curved tip llb. It'is thus apparent that the forms of my-inyes-nan shown in Figures 5 a'nd '6 '"are adapted to curved tips, but otherwise have the advantages and features of the form first above described.

L'Inthe above description, the'inven'tion has beenfdls'c'losed merely by way of example and in "preferredmahner; but obviously many variations and modifications "may be made thereinwhich will'still be comprised Within its spirit. It isto :be'un'dersto'od, therefore, that the invention is 'n'ot l'imited to an specific form or manner of pra'c ci'ng' same, except in "sor'ar as Sii'h' limitano s are specified in the appended claims.

"1.A' liquid cdntainer and dropper comprising 'ainia'in body ineinber, a top cap member and a floottom cap membe the said'b'ody ni'emberc'omprising a hollow container portion with a smooth surface, 'a "hollow dutwardly router cylindrical threaded bottom 1508's eiil'ieiidirig downwardl from the base of said container portion, a hollow e t re persons, andfla jnai ge, nueriy n said ingjlarger than the other whereby 'a'n 9 m age rea ed nea einent h the 'sa 'p'bb si an r p er "p rt on o th .tpf

', 311 idric l W a d ll c dropper extend n downwardly from the bossfthe hollowihteriors ofsaii'd'tip and boss forming afcontinuous channelcommunicat- "withfthe interior of the said container por- ;tion, a liollow outwardlythreaded top boss exupw'ardly from the top'of said container pe c nt-nu com-inuiiicating with the interior 'therecr, peripheral wallsat the top'and'bbttom :oi said c'ontainer portion surrounding said 'top and bottom 'bosse's, respectively, said peripheral walls being "disposed in intersecting'relation 'to the axis of the container portionthe said cap menib er having a cylindrical l with af smooth cuter 's'uIrface and two axially aligned aper tuifes extendingtherethrough,one ofsaid rt'u "steshoulder is portions ofjthe 'pt ng' in 1 a resiliefr'it member fcompiislng a 1 s tsts i lly j 'e dm ir -12 ,fi j i l a portii n e tendinglthrough 'said'sm ller ofthe apsph annular shoulder; the said, bottom 1 'cap' member ,ccmprisir g a cylindrieallateral :iwall with a 's, 0th cute surface floorfat the bottoniof the te fna c am e t tefi ned n m' he uppi r edeel h ai te 'to'said.iiqo l'the'lateral wall of'said c said ta ta and the "upper end tr enattttm cap each comprising an annular wall in interdevice and in mating engagement with the said respective upper and lower peripheral walls of the container portion.

2. A liquid container according to claim 1, the

outer diameters of the said main body, top cap and bottom cap members being equal, whereby the outer cylindrical surfaces of said members are flush and the junctures of the main body and cap members are circumferential lines.

3. A liquid container according to claim 1, both of said bosses and the said dropper tip and the said channel being in axial alignment.

4. A liquid container according to claim 1, the interior of said container portion having a conical floor communicating with said channel.

5. A liquid container according to claim 1, the interior of said container portion having a conical floor communicating with said channel, said channel being in axial alignment with the container portion.

6. A liquid container according to claim 1, the dropper tip being of curved configuration, the terminal thereof being substantially in facing relation to the annular wall of the chamber in the bottom cap.

7. A liquid container according to claim 1, the said dropper tip being joined to the bottom boss at a portion thereof eccentric with respect to the said axis, the tip being curved at the bottom thereof, the said channel being curved to correspond with the configuration of said tip.

8. A liquid container according to claim 1, the said peripheral walls at the top and bottom of the said container portion, and the said annular walls at the base and upper end of the top and bottom caps being flat and normal to the said axis.

9. A liquid container according to claim 1, the upper edge of the top boss being in engagement with the said flange of the bulb member.

10. A liquid container and dropper comprising a main body member, a top cap member and a bottom cap member; the said body member comprising a hollow container portion with a hollow dropper tip extending downwardly from the said container portion and communicating with the interior thereof; the said top cap member comprising a hollow shell and a resilient bulb member extending from the upper portion of the top cap and communicating with'the interior thereof; the said bottom cap member comprising a hollow shell open at the top and having a floor at the bottom to form an internal chamber, the chamber being proportioned to accommodate therein said dropper tip; said cap members being releasably secured to said main body member, the said container portion being-cylindrical, the said dropper tip being joined to the base of the container portion at a region thereof eccentric with respect to its axis, the tip being curved at the bottom thereof.

ALBERT LOEFFLER.

REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain .m Feb. 7, 1935 Number 

